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Dealing with doubt, and coming to terms with the fallibility of Church leaders and members was a major theme of the 185th Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other talks featured individuals not in heterosexual marriage finding meaning and happiness through faith and service. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s talk sparked discussion among LGBT Mormons, their families and friends about family acceptance and the place of LGBT people in the Church.
View the video of our Wednesday, October 7th semi-annual Post-General Conference Virtual Discussion. Panelists shared their perspectives and feelings regarding things they heard during the October 2015 General Conference.
Almost 600 people attended the 2015 Affirmation – LGBT Mormons, Families & Friends Conference in Provo, Utah last weekend. They came from as many as 12 countries, 4 continents and content was provided bilingually in English and Spanish. You can view photographs from the conference on our Affirmation Facebook Like Page. Videos are also available on our Affirmation LDS You Tube channel and links provided within to articles written about the conference.
It is only then when we touch the pain that we are in a position to be able to mourn. To be able to enter that second covenant. To mourn with that person. It is only then that we can truly comfort. That we can be good friends… Only then, when we understand the pain, can we offer words of comfort that reach deeply. And only then can we take upon ourselves the name of Christ.
Within the principle of fostering love within the family, there may also be an opportunity to discuss the unique challenge of LGBT acceptance within the home.
It’s not enough to stand on the periphery and wait for God to come to you. Like Jared and the sacred stones, we have to show initiative, energy, and courage in fighting our way through the throngs to ensure our sacred encounter with God. We have to break down walls, some of which may be of our own creation.
A new podcast started last month, entitled OUT IN ZION. It attempts to deepen and enrich the conversation intersecting membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The podcast features weekly discussions, interviews, and stories exploring current events and perennial topics, from varied perspectives.
We started with a hymn and a prayer, during the meeting, we shared and discussed the mission, vision, values and principles of Affirmation. Little by little we began asking and sharing our personal experiences, which included some broken hearts that need healing and lives that need the restorative balm of love and peace of Christ. We felt a beautiful spirit of friendship and fellowship.
Comenzamos con un himno y una oración, durante la reunión, compartimos y discutimos la misión, la visión, los valores y los principios de la Afirmación. Poco a poco comenzamos a preguntar y compartir nuestras experiencias personales, que incluían algunos corazones rotos que necesitan sanidad y vidas que necesitan el bálsamo restaurador del amor y la paz de Cristo. Sentimos un bello espíritu de amistad y compañerismo.